"It's bigger than me showing my body off," Wade revealed of doing the cover. "That's not as important to me as telling a story of overcoming a fear. It hopefully gives someone confidence to really be their authentic self."

In a statement, ESPN revealed that the issue was a big leap outside the basketball star's "comfort zone," explaining that Wade was so "insecure about his body as a child that he refused to swim without his shirt on."

Also featured in the issue are: Super Bowl MVP Von Miller, as well as NFL stars Vince Wilfork and Antonio Brown; U.S. women's national soccer team forward Christen Press, MMA star Conor McGregor, and Team USA duathlete Chris Mosier, who will be the first transgender athlete ever featured in the issue.

"As a trans person, I was in a body that didn't really fit me for 29 years; now I feel comfortable in my own skin," Mosier revealed of what his shoot means. "That's something that I'm proud of and wanted to share with other people."

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 15: Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade attend Variety and Women In Film's 2017 pre-Emmy celebration at Gracias Madre on September 15, 2017 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)

PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 24: Basketball Player Dwyane Wade and actress Gabrielle Union attend the Balmain Menswear Spring/Summer 2018 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on June 24, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Victor Boyko/Getty Images for Balmain)

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 03: Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade are seen at LAX on July 03, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by LAXPICS/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 05: Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade attend the 2017 CFDA Fashion Awards at Hammerstein Ballroom on June 5, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/FilmMagic)

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 01: Basketball player Dwyane Wade (L) and actress Gabrielle Union attend as PEOPLE celebrates Book Expo 2017 with a cocktail reception hosted by Books Editor Kim Hubbard at PH-D Penthouse at Dream Downtown on June 1, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for People)

CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 19: Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade pose backstage at the A Night on the Runwade Fashion Event at Revel Fulton Market on March 19th, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois.(Photo by Bobby Metelus/Getty Images)

NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 18: Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union attend NBA All-Star Saturday Night at Smoothie King Center on February 18, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 09: NBA basketball player Dwyane Wade and actress Gabrielle Union are seen on June 9, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Patricia Schlein/Star Max/GC Images)

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 7: Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade attend Public School Women's and Men's Spring 2017 Runway Show - Front Row and Backstage at Cedar Lake on June 7, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 13: Dahveon Morris, Gabrielle Union, Zion Wade, Dwyane Wade, and Zaire Wade attend the DWade All Star Bowling Classic Benefitting The Sandals Foundation And Wade's World Foundation at The Ballroom on February 13, 2016 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by George Pimentel/Getty Images for Sandals Foundation/Unique Vacations)

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 11: Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union attend the Stance and Dwayne Wade's Spade Tournament at The One Eighty on February 11, 2016 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by George Pimentel/WireImage)

MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 14: Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade are seen arriving at 'A Night on the RunWade' fashion event at Ice Palace Studios on November 14, 2015 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images)

MIAMI BEACH, FL - OCTOBER 9: Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade are seen at Ocean Drive Magazine's October Men's Issue celebration at StripSteak by Michael Mina at the Fontainebleau on October 9, 2015 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 30: Gabrielle Union and guest attend the Miami Heat vs New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden on November 30, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by James Devaney/GC Images)

MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 19: Gabrielle Union and Karla Martinez make an appearance on the set of Univision's Despierta America to promote her new movie 'Top Five' at Univision Headquarters on November 19, 2014 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images)

MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 18: Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade pose on the Run way at Ice Palace Film Studios on November 18, 2014 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Thaddaeus McAdams/FilmMagic)

MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 18: Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union share a moment at the 'A Night On The Runwade' fundrasing event at Ice Palace Film Studios on November 18, 2014 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Bobby Metelus/Getty Images)

MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 18: Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade attend 'A Night on the Runwade' to benefit Wade's World Foundation at Ice Palace Film Studios on November 18, 2014 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Alexander Tamargo/WireImage)

MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 18: Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade attend 'A Night on the Runwade' to benefit Wade's World Foundation at Ice Palace Film Studios on November 18, 2014 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Alexander Tamargo/WireImage)

MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 18: Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union attend 'A Night on the Runwade' to benefit Wade's World Foundation at Ice Palace Film Studios on November 18, 2014 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Alexander Tamargo/WireImage)

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - MARCH 16: Actress Gabrielle Union (L) and NBA player Dwyane Wade speak onstage during Day 2 of Jazz In The Gardens at Sun Life Stadium on March 16, 2014 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Aaron Davidson/Getty Images for Jazz In The Gardens)

HOLLYWOOD, FL - AUGUST 01: Jamie Foxx and Gabrielle Union share a laugh after a game at Dwyane Wade's Fourth Annual Fantasy Basketball Camp at Westin Diplomat on August 1, 2014 in Hollywood, Florida. (Photo by Bobby Metelus/Getty Images)

MIAMI, FL - JUNE 10: Gabrielle Union and Chantel Christopher arrive at the NBA Finals Game 3 at AmericanAirlines Arena on June 10, 2014 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Bobby Metelus/Getty Images)

MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 02: Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union are seen at Prime 112 for a special dinner to celebrate the partnership between Hublot and Miami HEAT player Dwyane Wade on December 2, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for Hublot)

MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 21: Ken Gorin, Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade make an appearance at the unveiling of the new Maserati Ghibli at The Collection on November 21, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for The Collection)

MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 21: Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union make an appearance at the unveiling of the new Maserati Ghibli at The Collection on November 21, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for The Collection)

MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 21: Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade make an appearance at the unveiling of the new Maserati Ghibli at The Collection on November 21, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for The Collection)

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: Actress Gabrielle Union and NBA player Dwyane Wade attend the Entertainment Weekly pre-Emmy party at Fig & Olive Melrose Place on September 20, 2013 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)

VENICE, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 01: Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union is seen leaving the Venice Airport during The 70th Venice International Film Festival on September 1, 2013 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Jacopo Raule/FilmMagic)

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: Actress Gabrielle Union and NBA player Dwyane Wade attend the Entertainment Weekly pre-Emmy party at Fig & Olive Melrose Place on September 20, 2013 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)